Aug. 22, 2018 - 11:45 a.m.
PENDLETON, Ore. – Firefighters
continue to make progress on wildfires caused by the recent thunderstorms. As expected,
new smoke reports continue to be discovered and fire managers expect more throughout
the next few days as the smoke in the area lifts and weather conditions
continue to stay warm and dry.
The Harrison Fire remains 30 acres and
is now 50% lined. The fire is located 16 miles west of Sumpter, Oregon, within the
Greenhorn unit of the North Fork John Day Wilderness on the North Fork John Day
Ranger District. This section of the wilderness is remote and in steep terrain,
making access difficult. Yesterday fire
behavior consisted of group torching that sent spots ahead of the main fire. Aerial
resources were key in helping slow the fire’s spread as firefighters worked to complete
fire line around the flanks of the fire. A spot fire was discovered today
around 6 a.m. and estimated at a quarter of an acre in size. Firefighters are engaged
in suppressing the spot fire while continuing to build and strengthen fire line
around the main fire. A helicopter is
supporting ground resources today by dropping water and cooling hot spots. Resources
on scene include 20 firefighters, air attack and one helicopter. An area, trail
and road closure within the vicinity of the Harrison Fire has been implemented as
of today at 6 a.m. A map and detailed
description of the area closure is available at any Umatilla National Forest
office and at the bottom of this news release.
Fire lines held overnight on the Gilman
Fire, located near Gilman Flats on the Heppner Ranger District and Prineville
Bureau of Land Management lands that are protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry. The fire remains 950 acres in size and 35%
contained. Today firefighters will continue to construct control lines and
secure the perimeter of the fire to reduce the risk of fire moving outside the
perimeter lines. Firefighters are focusing today on building fire line in the
Ditch Creek area to keep the fire out of the bottom of the drainage. Two helicopters are on scene supporting ground
resources today by dropping water and cooling hots spots. Currently 160 people
are assigned to the fire, including several resources from the Oregon
Department of Forestry. Grant County has issued a Level 1 Pre-Evacuation Fire Advisory
for the area of Monument, Ritter, Dale and Middle and North Fork communities.
The advisory area extends from Hwy 402, north to the Grant County line, and Hwy
395 west to the Grant County line. Residents in the area should make advance
preparations and stay tuned for further updates. For additional information on
this pre-evacuation fire advisory please visit http://gcoregonlive2.com/ and click on
the emergency alert system link.
Firefighters were successful yesterday on the Mallory
Creek Fire, which is now 100% contained. Fire crews are continuing mop up
today and securing containment lines. This fire is a half of an acre in size
and located 5 miles south of Penland Lake on the Heppner Ranger District.
Fire lines held overnight on the Low Ridge
Fire, which consists of two fires located within the Mill Creek Watershed
near Indian Ridge approximately 17 miles SE of Walla Walla, Washington on the
Walla Walla Ranger District. Low Ridge Fire 1 remains at 2.5 acres and is 90%
contained. Firefighters will be mopping up hot spots today within the fire perimeter.
Fire managers anticipate that mop up activities will take several days to
secure, due to the steep, rocky terrain in the area and heavy brush and snags. Resources
on scene include five smokejumpers, five firefighters from the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife, and a 10-person hand crew from Alaska. The Low Ridge 2 Fire is a
tenth of an acre in size and fully contained.
The Pomeroy Ranger District picked up one new
fire, the Hardy 2 Fire, which is less than a tenth of an acre in size located
near Hard to Get to Ridge, 20 miles south of Pomeroy, Washington. The fire was
reported on Aug. 21 at 5:45 p.m. and is burning in grass and timber near the
location of the Hardy Fire, which was declared out yesterday. Three firefighters
are on scene and the fire is 100% lined.
Weather conditions continue to be warm and dry
over the next few days. Fire
officials want to remind everyone that the current fire danger rating remains
at EXTREME and Public Use Restrictions involving campfires and chainsaw
use are in effect.
Similar restrictions may be in
effect on State and private lands protected by the Washington Department of
Natural Resources (WA-DNR). More
information can be found on the WA-DNR website at: http://www.dnr.wa.gov/.
For more information regarding
Restrictions, please contact:
Umatilla National Forest:
Information Hotline: Toll-Free (877)
958-9663
Twitter: @UmatillaNF
The latest fire information will be posted on the Blue
Mountains Fire Information Blog. To receive updates on fires in the Blue
Mountains, follow our blog at http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/.
###
Harrison Fire Closure Description
The area closure includes:
The
area within following the following boundary; starting at the Ben Harrison
Trail Head heading north/north east along the North Fork John Day (NFJD)
Wilderness boundary towards the junction of where the NFJD Wilderness boundary
intersects the Lost Creek Trail (National Forest System Trail (NFST) 3002),
then south along NFST 3002 to the junction of the Ben Harrison Trial (NFST
3173), then west along the NFST 3173 back to the Ben Harrison Trail Head. The
area is approximately 6,575 areas in size. Prohibited access does not apply to
access or use of the 10 road.
The trail closures include:
· National Forest System Trail
(NFST) 3173 - East of the Ben Harrison Trailhead on the Ben Harrison Trial to
the Junction of NFST 3002 of Lost Creek Trail
· National Forest System Trail
(NFST) 3002 - Lost Creek Trail south of the Lost Creek Saddle Camp Trailhead
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